Chandler Parsons shows frustration

Parsons laments missed chances
Long after the Rockets’ loss, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin were on the Toyota Center practice court working on their shots. Mostly, however, they might have been working off frustration.

“I’m just frustrated, man,” Parsons said. “I could be playing so much better. Missing the shot is the last of my worries. People are going to miss and make shots. It would have been a big shot that would have helped our team. But little things. I’m turning the ball over too much, having (Danilo) Gallinari just tip the ball over me is just effort. That’s usually what I do to people. It’s frustrating to allow that to happen.

“We got to be a team that’s going to win games even when we miss shots. We got to move the ball. We got to cut hard. We have to run in transition. We got to get back in transition. We have to rebound, dive on the floor. We have to do all the scrappy things.”

Nuggets schooled by Rockets icon
The Nuggets’ big men will remind no one of Hakeem Olajuwon, but Denver coach George Karl said the time Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee spent with the Rockets Hall of Famer did pay off.

“I think there’s confidence that comes from that type of experience,” Karl said. “The problem is we don’t go to the post very often. I think the footwork and the confidence that you gain by knowing how to finish and when to finish and where to go, all that stuff, comes to guys who don’t have a lot of experience. It was just a real positive thing to us to have two of our guys there. … The confidence they gained from Hakeem is what everybody evaluating, and I think it will work out to be very positive.”

Faried said as different as they are, Olajuwon’s lessons were valuable on both ends of the floor.

“It helps a lot to get the finesse game in. It helps you as a person to not always have to dunk everything at the rim,” Faried said. “You can, sometimes when somebody’s fouling, learn how to maneuver and finesse it up for a layup or just know how to go through contact without always dunking.

“His footwork he taught is amazing. Everybody thinks that footwork is just for offense. Footwork’s also used for defense, because you can stay in front of somebody with the … maneuvering of your feet that he taught us.”

Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) battles for a loose ball against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) battles for a loose ball against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Chandler Parsons (25) dunks the ball over Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) gestures to the audience during a time out during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) gestures to the audience during a time out during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Marcus Morris (2) hangs from the basket after scoring against Portland's Luke Babbitt (8) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Marcus Morris (2) hangs from the basket after scoring against Portland's Luke Babbitt (8) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) grabs the rebound over Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Portland's J.J. Hickson (21) grabs the rebound over Houston's Cole Aldrich (31) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) against Portland's Wesley Matthews (2) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's James Harden (13) looks to pass the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Houston's Jeremy Lin (7) passes the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Houston's Jeremy Lin (7) passes the ball during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Jane Wagner wears her beard before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Jane Wagner wears her beard before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rocket's James Harden (13) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Rocket's James Harden (13) during the first half of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Rockets Carlos Delfino fights off the smog during player introductions before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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The large over court scoreboard looms over players as they warm up before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

The large over court scoreboard looms over players as they warm up before the start of the home opener NBA game at Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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The new, larger scoreboard above the Toyota Center court before the start of the home opener NBA game at the Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.

The new, larger scoreboard above the Toyota Center court before the start of the home opener NBA game at the Toyota Center, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Houston.